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![\"Must-know](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cdn.britannica.com\/22\/213222-050-3B74BD6E\/Zoroastrian-fire-temple-Yazd-Iran.jpg?ssl=1\" "\\"Must-know")
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n Zoroastrianism is one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions. It was founded by the Prophet <\/span>Zoroaster<\/span><\/a>in ancient Iran. It is now one of the world’s smallest religions.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Dualism in Zoroastrianism Dualism in Zoroastrianism is the existence of, yet complete separation of, good and evil. This is recognised in two interconnecting ways: <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Cosmic dualism Cosmic dualism<\/span><\/i> refers to the ongoing battle between Good (Ahura Mazda) and Evil (Angra Mainyu) within the universe. It is important to understand that Angra Mainyu is not God<\/span><\/a>‘s equal opposite rather that Angra Mainyu is the destructive energy that opposes God’s creative energy. This creative energy is called Spenta Mainyu<\/i>. God created a pure world through his creative energy, which Angra Mainyu continues to attack, making it impure. Aging, sickness, famine, natural disasters, death and so on are attributed to this. With cosmic dualism we have life and death, day and night, good and evil. One cannot be understood without the other. Life is a mixture<\/a> of these two opposing forces. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Moral dualism Moral dualism<\/span><\/i> refers to the opposition of good and evil in the mind of mankind. God’s gift to man was free will; therefore man has the choice to follow the path of Evil (druj<\/i> – deceit) or the path of Righteousness (asha<\/i>– truth). The path of Evil leads to misery and ultimately Hell. The path of Righteousness leads to peace and everlasting happiness in Heaven. As with cosmic dualism, we have the polarity of happiness and sadness, truth and deception and so on but with an emphasis on choice. This choice is crucial as it determines whether we are the helper of Ahura Mazda or the helper of Angra Mainyu. When all of mankind chooses the former over the latter, evil will finally be defeated and Paradise on earth will be realized. In practice, modern Zoroastrianism has a positive outlook. It teaches that Mankind is ultimately good and that this goodness will finally triumph over evil. This could be seen as a retrenchment from the faith’s original purity of dualism. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Humanity in Zoroastrianism <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Everyday life Zoroastrian beliefs can best be summed up by the maxim: Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds Zoroastrians try to live their daily lives by this creed. At the age of seven, Zoroastrians are given a sudreh<\/i> (shirt) and kusti<\/i>(cord) as part of an initiation ceremony<\/span><\/a>. These garments are considered sacred. They tie the kusti around the sudreh three times to remind themselves of ‘Good Words, Good Thoughts, and Good Deeds’. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Family and community Zoroastrianism is a home and community oriented religion. There is no tradition of monasticism or celibacy. Zoroaster himself was a family man and most worship happens in the family home. Zoroastrianism is also about action. Zoroastrians work towards improving the local community and society in general. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Man and God Unlike some religions where man is God<\/span><\/a>‘s child or servant, in Zoroastrianism man is considered more as God’s helper. Through man’s positive choices, evil<\/span><\/a>will be eradicated and God’s Paradise on Earth will be established. Men and women, rich and poor, and young and old are all seen as equal. One only surpasses the other through their righteousness. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Zoroastrian beliefs about God <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n One God Zoroastrians believe in one God, called Ahura Mazda (meaning ‘Wise Lord’). He is compassionate, just, and is the creator of the universe. Ahura Mazda is: God is worshiped as supreme. Zoroastrians believe that everything he created is pure and should be treated with love and respect. This includes the natural environment, so Zoroastrians traditionally do not pollute the rivers, land or atmosphere. This has caused some to call Zoroastrianism ‘the first ecological religion’.\n
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